[dropcap]G[/dropcap]overnor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state has ordered the resumption of church activities in the state with extra conditions.
This was made public by the state secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Madukwe.
The new directive comes with strict restrictions as well as the implementation of social distancing procedures.
Reverend Madukwe wrote;
I am directed to inform you that at the end of our meeting with the Governor on 30/04/2020 opening of church worship was granted as follows:
1. Effective: 3rd May, 2020.
2. Duration of service: 2 hrs.
3. Days of service per week: one each on Sundays & Wednesdays.
4. No. of Worshippers per Service :
100 man capacity hall = 20 worshippers;
200 Capacity hall =50 worshippers;
500 capacity & above =100 worshippers(Maximum).
Hand washing, use of Sanitizers & Social distance of 6ft between seats, use of nose mask by all worshippers must be observed.
No handshakes, no hugging.
“Heads of Blocs and Local Government Co-ordinators to disseminate this information to every Pastor within their Jurisdiction,” he revealed.
Governor Okowa had earlier ordered the relaxing of the stay-at-home order in the state in order for the resumption of business activities.
Lockdown: Okowa Orders Partial Resumption Of Church Activities In Delta
COVID-19: Mikkey’s Bite Bakery & Confectionaries distributes palliatives to Oba Town, others
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of of Mikkey’s Bite Bakery & Confectionaries
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t was literally tears of joy at Oba town of Anambra State as the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of of Mikkey’s Bite Bakery & Confectionaries Chief Mike Molokwu distributed food items to the quarters in Oba as pallatiives to the needy and vulnerable. Grassroots Publishers online reports that the food items comprising bags of rice ,tubers of yam, Indomie noodles and Breads were to cushion the effects of lockdown caused by COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world.
Molokwu said the food items were his widow’s mite to ease the sufferings of his Oba people and others as a result of the lockdown.
Addressing the beneficiaries from the quarters of Oba community, Chief Molokwu said the foundation spent money to make the palliatives available for the vulnerables in the Oba Community.
Molokwu noted that the foundation’s intervention was to assist government in alleviating the sufferings of the people in the lockdown era as government could not do it alone.
He said: “Government is limited in terms of what it can do. Organizations and individuals have roles to play. Communities have people who are blessed and it is time to come to the rescue of our people. It will be very painful for people to die of hunger virus. And you know Doctors can treat patients but they cannot feed them.
“The foundation has made provision for Oba community, others outside this community and has extended it to people in Delta State and other parts of the country,” he said. He maintained that the tension in the land with it’s attendant confusion was enough to put people in distress hence , the Mike Molokwu foundation decided to use food apostolate to cushion the effects on the people.
Molokwu informed that the foundation had distributed same quantity to Ibusa in Oshimili North Local Government of Delta State. He asked people to buy face masks to protect themselves which is not costly since they can buy recharge cards to make calls.
In his comments, the community women leader described it as a thing of joy that God had used an Oba son to come to the rescue of the people. He noted that what the foundation had done was Community Social Responsibility (CSR) and prayed that God would continue to bless the benefactor and Oba community who had produced a son like Mike Molokwu.
“We also pray that God will pursue Coronavirus and its trouble away from us. It will not come close to us or attack our children, ” he said.
He recalled that the Mike Molokwu Foundation had been doing a lot to empower Oba people through scholarships, skill acquisition and other various means of empowerment.
In his goodwill message, the Publisher of Newsbreeze Magazine, Comrade Ike Philip Abiagom described Mike Molokwu’s as God sent to not only Oba community and Anambra State but the entire Nigeria.
Abiagom said the most striking thing in the distribution to Oba and others was that it was not political as there was no name on the rice, asking God to bless the giver and receivers. Molokwu commended Governor Willie Obiano for his swift response to unfolding events on Covid 19, stressing that the proactiveness of the State Central Committee on Managing and Containing the Coronavirus pandemic led by the Governor had helped to check the spread of the virus in the state.
He appreciated the love of God for his state, particularly the people of Oba Town and prayed that the Covid 19 pandemic currently ravaging the world be brought to an end.
Govt Should Look Outside Total Lockdown For Solution To Coronavirus – Elofu-Dike
Chairman of Umudike Farms Limited and Hotel De Espana
[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hief Ambrose Elofu-Dike,The Chairman of Umudike Farms Limited and Hotel De Espana,speaking to Grassroots Publishers crew yesterday said that government should look for solution to coronavirus and ensure how people would get back to work and not see total lockdown as solution to coronavirus.
Elofu-Dike said: “I must say that so far so good. Our government has been responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. At least, we’ve been able to restrict the spread even though at the moment we are having community spread. It’s no longer those flying in from abroad and so it requires a lot of enlightenment of our people. Self-distance issue is not a joke. It’s real. Wearing mask is absolutely necessary.
“So government is doing a lot in that direction but I want to tell us that it’s either we hurry up and catch up with Covid-19 and eradicate it or we know that in no distant time we have to live with the situation and try to beat it while still continuing with our lives.
“The question is for how long will this continue this way and if it continues this way, Total lockdown is not a solution to it. So Nigerian government should be looking at solution as it stands today.We should be thinking,’how do we solve this problem and get back to work?”
He said the economy should bounce back so people could earn living and not be tempted to look for ways to fend for themselves.
The business leader said: “I tell you if at the end of the day there’s no economy then it will take us a very long time to recover and if by next month nothing is done for the economy to be flowing a little, that means that a lot of people will have no job in terms of payment of salary and that necessarily puts a lot of burden on the government at all levels because when people are not paid their salaries what they resort to is something that you and I should not imagine and I pray that it doesn’t get to that.”
He said that the coronavirus pandemic was impacting negatively on businesses adding consumption was not as high as it used to be because people were under the lockdown.
The business leader said if the situation continued as it is quite a number of businesses would be unable to meet their obligations noting that the government should support the business sector.
He said the coronavirus pandemic was sufficient reason for most businesses to declare ‘force majeure’ in which they would be unable to meet their responsibilities. He has called for collaboration between different tiers of government to fight the spread of coronavirus.
One Injured As Vehicle Crashes Into Drainage In Onitsha
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] middle-aged man sustained serious injury in a motor accident along Onitsha-Awka expressway, Onitsha, Anambra state. The accident which occurred around 12.55pm near Upper Iweka, involved two vehicles, Toyota Camry and a M/Benz Truck.
Our Reporter gathered that the driver of the vehicle veered off the road and crashed into the drainage while attempting to dodge the truck.
Confirming the incident, State Sector Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Pascal Anigbo, attributed the cause of the accident to speeding and loss of control.
He said, “At about 12.55pm today Wednesday 29 April, 2020, a traffic crash was recorded at Chisco Bus Stop about 50 meters from the FRSC Upper Iweka Outpost, along Onitsha-Awka Expressway.
“A total of two (2) male adults and two(2) vehicles, Toyota Camry with registration number LSD524FX and a M/Benz Truck with registration number NSH984YY, were involved in the crash.
“There was no death, but one of the victims sustained some degree of injury and was rushed to Toronto Hospital by FRSC rescue team Upper Iweka Outpost, for medical attention.
“Officers and Men of the FRSC are on ground managing traffic and ensuring that obstruction caused. The crashed vehicles were towed to Okpoko Police Station.
“The Sector Commander Federal Road Safety Corps Anambra State, CC Andrew A. Kumapayi warns motorists against speeding, drivers should drive with common sense speed limits, especially in built up areas.
“It is also very important to drive defensively, to avoid collisions. He wishes the injured victim quick recovery.
FEATURE: NDDC: Isaiah 59:19 – that Spirit works in Akpabio!
By Douglas Dodiyi-Manuel
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]ndeed, times have changed, and the youth of this generation are learning and imbibing what may have easily been apostate to the youth of prior generations. In my recent article, The Pharaoh knows no Joseph in Forensic Audit, I quoted the legendary Malam Nuhu Ribadu, when he said, “When you fight corruption, corruption fights back”. Sadly, it is an unbelievable dawn of the apostate in our land.
These are times of blurry perspectives, when men can no longer differentiate between right and wrong. Our youth have gone commercial with a mind of negotiable commitment. They have no social or political persuasions, but are vacant and available for the crusade of corruption.
It was before a global audience that the Point-Blank News alleged that the NDDC IMC has within two months disbursed Two Hundred Billion Naira (N200,000,000,000), whereas, the NDDC had only received less than fifteen percent (15%) of the said figure. The sad things, is that these tales of putative disbursements are not only false and misleading, but are also exacerbating ignorance.
Furthermore, sequel to the special request by the Government of Ondo State, and the Lassa Fever outbreak in Edo State, upon which on the 16th of April 2019, the NDDC entered into a contract pursuant to the Public Procurement Act of 2007 with a company for the supplies of Lassa Fever Protective Kits – the contract value was N2,425,242,248.00.
The company fulfilled their contractual obligations through the NDDC process, but the NDDC before the expiration of the Prof Brambaifa administration could not fulfil her own obligation of prompt payment.
Like what has become the culture of State Governments, where contractual obligations are treated with levity, more so those of a different administration, the Prof Pondei IMC could have easily ignored the contract, and exposed the NDDC to the consequences of ensuing litigations. But seeing that extant requirements have been fully complied with, they chose to honour the contractual agreement between the NDDC and the said company, and released the payment to the company – and believe me, more payments would be released to as many companies that have legitimate cause to be paid.
Seeing that payment has legitimately been made, the merchants of lies congregated again, and without thorough investigation, they took to the media to sensationalise the fact of payment with an allusion of corruption.
Something apparently remarkable in the Buhari administration is the rule of law, and that is what has curtailed the arrogance of impunity.
In terms of the Public Procurement Act, payments that exceeds 80 days should attract interest – owing to this, the contract was fully paid for.
It is also noteworthy that owing to the need to establish the dawn of a responsive administrative protocol, that will aid the efforts of the Buhari administration to entrench a culture of responsibility, patriotism and respect, the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio has shown determination and capacity to raise a standard against the advancement of corruption and vested interest.
It is therefore immensely tragic that in an effort to frustrate the forensic audit of the NDDC, a commendable Interim Management Committee is daily vilified through the instrumentation of ignorance, joblessness and hunger – the poverty of our youth has thus become a tool of coercion to sustain the reign of mediocrity and ignominy – believe me, the tide will turn!
What President Buhari saw in Sen. Akpabio before appointing him as Chairman of the Presidential Monitoring Committee, is his doggedness, resilience, tenacity and the persuasion to make society work – NDDC will work!
May I therefore advise the traducers of IMC and the Honourable Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, to deploy their steam and strength shunning out legislative Bills that enjoy the coloration of contemporary developmental innovations.
With the ferocious advancement of corruption, Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio is, and represents the standard raised to preserve the integrity of our society – the forensic audit will be exhaustive.
Douglas Dodiyi-Manuel is the General Coordinator and Chairman, Free River Social Media FRSM
COVID-19, Lassa Fever Contracts: There Is No Fraud At NDDC
PRESS STATEMENT
THERE IS NO FRAUD AT NDDC
The Niger Delta Development Commission has been inundated with enquiries on many negative reports in online publications alleging acts of impropriety on the part of the commission. Given the extent of public interest and the determination of the Interim Management Committee to chart a new course for the commission, we feel duty bound to respond as follows:
- COVID 19 Contract
The online publications (are) circulating a letter purportedly issued by the Director of Procurement awarding a contract of N5.55 billion for the procurement of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and other kits to fight the spread of COVID 19 in the Niger Delta region. We wish to unequivocally deny that contract. The document is simply fake or at best unauthorised. The letters for all contracts awarded by the Commission are signed by the Executive Director, Projects on the authority of the Ag Managing Director who is the chief accounting officer of the Commission. Neither of the officials (is) aware of the contract letter. It is inconceivable that a contract (and) of such magnitude could be awarded otherwise. The Commission has launched an internal investigation into how such a letter came to be issued and on what authority.
For the purpose of transparency, we wish to confirm that the Commission has just secured presidential approval to intervene by assisting NCDC in the supply of kits and the building of isolation centres in the nine Niger Delta states.
Also, the Commission has disbursed N775m to assist the 9 Niger Delta States fight the plague. We have also disbursed N270 million as palliatives to the youths, women and the physically challenged in the 27 senatorial districts of the region.
- Lassa Fever
There are claims that the present management has paid out huge sums for contracts to supply kits and drugs for the prevention of Lassa Fever. We wish to state that this present management has not awarded any Lassa fever contract. From the records, the Commission awarded three contracts for intervention against the Lassa Fever scourge and all these took place in 2019, at least one year before the present management came into office. For the purpose of transparency, these contracts are as follows:
In early 2019, there was an outbreak of Lassa Fever in Ondo and Edo states, which overwhelmed the capacity of the state governments to cope. The governor of Ondo State made a request to the Commission for intervention. As a result, the then management, headed by Prof Nelson Braimbaifa on 20th February 2019 awarded a contract for the procurement of 21,000 Lassa Fever prevention kits for the region in the sum of N903 million. The items were supplied and distributed. The contractor was duly paid. As the scourge persisted, there was need for further intervention. Another 1,000 protective kits were ordered for N1,092,283,500. This contract was awarded on March 11, 2019. The last contract for Lassa Fever was awarded on April 16, 2019 in the sum of N2,425,242,248. All the kits were supplied and distributed to the nine states. As at date, the Commission is yet to pay for this last contract. Payments had been suspended on ministerial order due to the need for verification of past contracts. At no time did the IMC pay out more than N4 billion for Lassa Fever contracts as alleged.
Having provided the facts, the Commission also wishes to state as follows:
We (has) noticed an upsurge in attacks on the Commission, the Interim Management Committee and the Honourable Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs since the launch of a forensic audit into the affairs of the commission. This attacks are meant to distract the commission from the task of holding those who looted the commonwealth to account. The Honourable Minister and the Interim Management Committee are determined to see through this audit. On Wednesday, April 22 when the relevant documents were handed over to the lead consultant for the forensic audit, the Ag Managing Director, Prof Kemebradikumo Pondei warned that this exercise cannot be truncated. To quote him: ‘Those who took part in the grand conspiracy to loot the commonwealth are jittery that their misdeeds will come to light. We wish we could sympathise with them. But it could have occurred to them that a day of reckoning will come. The fear of the impunity of their past misdeeds being brought to light is causing panic. In fact, the vultures are shivering. Let us place on record that no amount of intimidation, campaign of falsehood and ‘breakdancing’ will abort this exercise.’
The public should be prepared for more of these attacks against the commission. It is important to point out that most of the attacks use online publications, with no known addresses or physical assets, which can be sued for defamation of character by the officials they are clearly libelling. The mainstream media with standards have not joined this jaundiced plot.
The Commission also wish to warn those agents of darkness from the Niger Delta who are hell bent on destroying every good thing in the region to change course. The essence of the present IMC and the forensic audit ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari are to reposition the Commission to make it fit for purpose. Anyone with any evidence of wrong doing should reach out to the IMC or the auditors. The forensic auditors should be allowed to complete their assignment so those who failed the region can be held to account.
It is also clear that people who have political agenda against the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs are also seeing the Commission as a fair game. It is imperative to say that the commission is an agency for the good of the Niger Delta region. The greatest disservice that can be done is for political gladiators of today to make the commission a collateral damage in their contest for power and influence. Tomorrow will come. Besides, the Hon Minister’s uncommon passion for a new Niger Delta should be applauded and not attacked.
Charles Obi Odili
Director, Corporate Affairs
Buhari Extends Tenure of NDDC Interim Management Committee
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he tenure of the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been extended by seven months.
A statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by Special Adviser to the President Media and Publicity, Mr Adesina, disclosed that the extension was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.
With this development, the committee, which is headed by Professor Keme Pondei, now have till December 31, 2020 to remain in office.
According to Mr Adesina, the extension is to cover the period of the forensic audit of the NDDC, earlier approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under the chairmanship of the President.
In the same vein, President Buhari equally approved that the NDDC provides intervention support to complement efforts of the federal and state governments against further spread of COVID-19 in the nine states of the Niger Delta region, in the sum of N6.25 billion.
“The materials and supplies are to be done through Emergency Procurement method as provided in Sections 42(b) (c) and 43 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007,” Mr Adesina said.
Please Don’t Drink Or Inject Our Cleaning products As Suggested by Trump. – Lysol & Detol Maker
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]eckitt Benckiser, the company that makes Lysol and Dettol is urging customers not to consume its cleaning products after President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of injecting disinfectants to protect people from coronavirus.
The British company, warned Friday that human consumption of disinfectant products is dangerous. It issued the statement following “recent speculation and social media activity.”
“As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstance should our disinfectant products be administered into the human body (through injection, ingestion or any other route),” the company said in a statement.
RB said products should only be “used as intended and in line with usage guidelines. “We have a responsibility in providing consumers with access to accurate, up-to-date information as advised by leading public health experts,” the company said.
The statement followed remarks from President Trump on Thursday on the use of disinfectants.
“And then I see the disinfectant where it knocks it out in one minute. Is there a way we can do something like that by injection inside or almost a cleaning … it would be interesting to check that,” Trump said. “It sounds interesting to me,” he added.
Corporate Beggars Lay Siege To ATM In Asaba
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ollowing the Coronavirus Pandemic outbreak and the subsequent lockdown order by the Delta state government, Persons consisting of adult males and females have taken over ATM Centers in Asaba to beg for alms from bank Customers who come for cash withdrawals.
It was gathered that these beggars often well dressed, are seen around unsuspecting Customers as most cases they Join the queues as if they want to make cash withdrawals only to beg for money from selected Persons Investigation in Asaba revealed that these beggars have no shame as they usually target Persons who look well to do as part of their antics to gain financial favour with sympathy appearance and are armed with nylon bags containing food items such as rice, beans or garri begging aloud that since the lockdown they have not been feeding well especially as unemployed Deltans and residents.
For the females, further investigation revealed that they offer themselves to any available men with GSM Contacts after Collecting money from their targets to ensure their feeding while they disappear into the thin air Some Customers who spoke to Journalists in Asaba on Condition of anonymity described the situation as pathetic adding” We have been embarrassed by these Corporate beggars at the ATM machines, they are educated but they claimed to be unemployed, have no money to feed because of the lockdown order, the situation is really unfair and unfortunate”
At Eco bank ATM Center by FMC Asaba, these Corporate beggars were seen milling around the Customers who were at the center to withdraw cash as they shameless demand” Bros hunger dey, please give us something to feed, Okowa no dey look our direction and we are hungry terribly, we are graduates but no Job and there is lockdown order, how do we feed ourselves and others”? Asked if don’t have relations, these beggars will scream” relations at this Coronavirus Pandemic era, nobody wants to help, we want money to buy food items and eat hence we are the banks’ ATM machines to ask for Survival”
But the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya who Confirmed this incident, said that the Police have been drafted to ATM machine Centers to monitor these beggars who may hide under begging to rob, adding that no arrest has been made but warned that the Police will henceforth arrest anybody who have no business at the ATM Centers and be Charged to Court Apart from the Corporate beggars found around ATM machines, youths are found around desolated markets searching for dumped Akpu ( Fufun ) for their parents to reprepare for their meals as they are ubiquitous around summit road, Ezeni avenue among others Some of the beggars who spoke to Journalists on condition of anonymity said” we don’t have any money because we are not working, instead we be begging until the lockdown order is over and we will resume our daily bread in the market,but for now nothing for us and we want to feed instead of doing Ashawo in the streets, and Police will be pursuing us ups and down , we are not ashamed at all”
COVID-19: Elofu-Dike Commends Senator Nwaoboshi’s Distribution of Palliatives through Grassroots
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t was celebration galore in the entire Delta North as Senator Peter Nwaoboshi distribute foodstuffs to the residents of the Nine local Government Areas that make up the Anioma nation (Delta North) of Delta State.
Senator Peter Nwaoboshi setup a proactive COVID-19 Palliative Committee as a grassroots Politican to make sure the items gets to the grassroots people. He instructed the Committee to hand over the palliatives to the Traditional Rulers in Anioma Nation to aviod divertion of these items and with this grassroots distribution method he has given back the power to the people of Anioma.
The people of Delta North cannot stop thanking Senator Peter Nwaoboshi for assisting the Nine local Government Areas that make up the Anioma nation to overcome hunger during this difficult period when they are mandated to stay at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking during the monitoring visit to some Anioma communities by Chief Elofu-Dike and his team,the grassroots people confided in the team that the Palliatives was well distributed to the grassroots people and it shows that Senator Peter Nwaoboshi is highly committed to the safety of Anioma people, hence the distribution of foodstuffs to the grassroots
help them to survive during this period.He said that hunger does not discriminate on the basis of political party and religion.
“Senator Peter Nwaoboshi is aware that grassroots people are suffering at this time because of the lockdown and he wants to make sure that the Palliatives gets to the vulnerable at the grassroots and He directed us to visit all wards of Anioma Nation to reach out to the people as part of his support for them,” he said.
We appreciate our father,brother, mentor and the Political leader of our time Senator Peter Nwaoboshi for the measures taken to cater for the less privileged and his people at this perilous times occasioned by the pandemic.
Elofu-Dike advised Deltans North and other residents of the state not to see the relaxation of the lockdown as an opportunity to live and act recklessly, but to continue to maintain Social and Physical Distancing and as well as wear face masks in public places as this is the surest way to prevent an escalation of the situation. At times such as this, we must all make the sacrifice to overcome.He therefore pray God to bless the Senator for playing Leadership role in times like this and exhaustively prayed that he will remain at top level so as to remain a topic in his Leadership dispositions.
